Disasters and their Effects on the Population
2. Introduction
Authors: Patrick Mahar, MD; Col. Julia A. Lynch, MD, FAAP; Joseph Wathen, MD; Eric Tham, MD, MS, FAAP; Stephen Berman, MD, FAAP; Sathyanarayanan Doraiswamy, MD; Allen G.K. Maina, MD
Recent advances in technology and the ease with which news and information travel around the world have made learning about disasters in distant countries an almost weekly occurrence. From the recent conflicts in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic to the typhoon in the Philippines and flooding in the Zambezi region, these disasters have led to unimaginable levels of destruction and death.
Although most of these disasters occur in underserved areas of the world without adequate resources and technology, they can also occur in societies with advanced medical systems such as the United States, Europe, and Japan. It is impossible to predict when and where the next disaster will take place. However, we can strive to be prepared to handle both the acute and longer-term effects of a variety of disasters in different populations.
While the timing and the actual disaster event are difficult to predict, several consequences of disasters are predictable. Therefore, we can prepare to deal with these consequences. As pediatricians, we must ensure that disaster preparedness includes the unique needs of children. Children are a vulnerable population with physiologic, psychological, and developmental needs that differ from those of adults.
There is a professional obligation to take an active role in disaster preparedness in order to advocate for the needs of infants, children, and teenagers.
In this module, we will:
- Review disaster definitions, classifications, and measures of severity
- Describe the phases of a disaster
- Review World Health Organization recommended emergency response measures
- Discuss the role of humanitarian organizations
- Present key issues that health care workers and medical volunteers may face in disaster relief
The key message of this module is that while it is not possible to predict disasters, planning and preparation can help mitigate some of the morbidity and mortality that occur in the aftermath of a disaster.
This message was clearly expressed by Benjamin Franklin: “Failing to plan is planning to fail.”